SEAMUS COLEMAN admits he has surprised himself with his rapid progress through the ranks. Just two years ago the 22-year-old was plying his trade with Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland.

However, yesterday the young Irishman celebrated putting pen to paper on a new four-and-a-half-year deal which keeps him at Goodison Park until the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

Coleman only signed a new contract last May but it’s a sign of the huge impression he’s made at Everton this season that his previous deal has been torn up.

With striker Victor Anichebe also committing himself to a new contract, it was a timely boost for boss David Moyes ahead of tomorrow’s showdown with bottom club West Ham at Goodison.

Coleman was snapped up by Moyes from Sligo for just £60,000 in January 2009 as Everton beat off interest from Ipswich, Birmingham City and Celtic.

A successful spell on loan at Blackpool followed with Coleman playing a key role in the Tangerines winning promotion to the Premier League.

This season the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has been a revelation, firmly establishing himself on Everton’s right flank and scoring five goals in 22 appearances.

“I’m over the moon to sign the contract,” Coleman said. “My aim was to keep impressing after every contract and this new one proves that I’ve been doing well. I just want to keep going now.

“When I came over first it was a two-year contract and I treated it as a trial.

“I got a new one whilst I was at Blackpool, and to get another one so quickly was a surprise because that’s three in a short space of time.”

Coleman’s fiercely committed displays have won him plenty of admirers among the club’s supporters.

“When I go out on the pitch I get my head down and I have a go,” he said.

“Even if it’s not going well for me on the ball, I’ll keep running around and giving it 100% and the fans appreciate that.”

Coleman is hoping to celebrate his new contract in style with victory tomorrow.

The teams drew 1-1 when they met at Upton Park last month with Coleman on target for Moyes’ men.

Everton are looking to build on their recent revival which saw wins over Tottenham and Scunthorpe followed by last weekend’s draw at Anfield.

“The Premier League this season is so tight and everyone is beating everyone apart from United at the top,” Coleman added.

“You can’t take anything for granted, and West Ham aren’t going so well and they are going to be fighting for it but we need the points at Goodison.”

Academy product Anichebe has also penned a four-and-a-half year deal to end speculation linking him with a move.

The 22-year-old Nigerian striker, whose contract was set to expire in the summer, has battled his way back into the first team after recovering from the knee injury he suffered in pre-season.

Anichebe started the 2-2 draw against Liverpool last weekend and played a crucial part in creating Everton’s goal for Jermaine Beckford.

He said: “It’s good to finally get it out the way.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about what I’m going to do but it’s just good to be able to concentrate on playing for the club.

“When the fans heard that I rejected a deal a while ago it wasn’t really a good time for me.

“I knew myself the stuff in the papers wasn’t true. The reasons it’s taken so long isn’t anything to do with money.”

Injuries meant it was November before Anichebe made his first Premier League appearance of the season.

But he’s now fighting fit and determined to enjoy an extended run in the side.

“I always stressed that I needed to build my fitness up and the manager has said he’ll help me as much as he can with that,” he said.

“I don’t like to dwell on the past, I see the injuries as a positive. Hopefully it will give me more hunger to succeed.

“But it’s taken me a while to get back, my fitness and confidence goes up and down, but the manager has showed great faith in me and the supporters have always backed me so it’s good to get things sorted.”

Leighton Baines has been named as Everton’s Player of the Month for December.

The left-back, who accepted his award at Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel, has been rewarded for a string of excellent performances as Everton went unbeaten in the final month of 2010.

“It’s always pleasing to receive personal accolades but the most important thing is how the team is getting on,” Baines said.

“We’ve been doing well recently and hopefully that will continue in the second half of the season.”

Despite intense speculation about his position, Avram Grant remains in charge of West Ham for tomorrow’s game.

Amid reports that Martin O’Neill has turned down the chance to replace him, the board have vowed to keep faith with the Israeli.

Former West Ham striker Iain Dowie believes his old club could learn from the relationship that exists between Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright which ensures there is stability at Goodison Park.

“I’m a huge admirer of David Moyes and he’s certainly got the best out of his players,” Dowie said.

“I think he’s up there amongst the top three or four managers in the Premier League – I’ve always believed that.

“He’s coped with everything really well. He’s just got on with what him and Steve Round do really well.

“I was at the Spurs game, and in the second half Everton were sensational.

“They made a very good Spurs side look average and that’s got a lot to do with David Moyes.

“Bill Kenwright knows he’s got a very good manager there and he knows that David Moyes will work the players hard and get the best out of them.

“As a chairman that’s what you want from your manager, that you do it in the right way, and David Moyes has always done that.”